Villupuram temple reopened after 22 months

Villupuram: The more than 100-year-old Dharmaraja Draupadi Amman Temple at Melpathi near Valavanur in Villupuram district was opened for public worship on Thursday after 22 months amid tight police protection following a direction from Madras high court.
The temple was sealed in June 2023 as tension mounted between the dalit and vanniyar communities over the entry of dalits. The temple was opened in March last year to perform daily poojas, but public worship was banned.
In Feb, Madras high court permitted public worship, following which the Villupuram district officials held peace talks with representatives from both communities and arrived at an amicable solution.
"We held peace talks with the representatives of both parties after the high court permitted public worship. Both parties agreed to maintain peace, and a majority of representatives of the vanniyar community agreed to permit entry of dalits into the temple, following which about 60 dalits entered and offered prayers," said Vilupuram superintendent of police P Saravanan.
A few vanniyar community representatives raised objections and claimed that public worship can be permitted on an auspicious day after performing certain rituals, said Saravanan. About 20 people from the vanniyar community entered the temple and offered prayers, he said. A few people who objected to the entry of dalits into the temple picked up an argument with policemen. Police warned them of strict action as the temple was opened for public worship after the high court's order. "We took all precautionary measures, including installing CCTVs and erecting streetlights in the vicinity of the temple to prevent any untoward incidents and monitor the activities of the people in and around the temple," said the SP.
More than 400 policemen were deployed near the temple and dalit settlements to prevent any untoward incidents. Police have set up barricades at all the entry points into the village to prevent outsiders from entering the village. The revenue officials made public announcements through loudspeakers that the temple was open, and anyone could enter and offer prayers.